With the chance to move to the top of the Championship table, Norwich City will go in search of a fifth straight league win on Saturday, when they welcome Coventry City to Carrow Road.

The Canaries most recently beat Birmingham City to move into second place with 13 points from seven outings, while their visitors sit at the foot of the division having played just four games and failed to win thus far.

Match preview

© Reuters

In their bid to make another immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated last term, Norwich City made a slow start to the Championship season, picking up just one point from the opening three games as they suffered defeats to Cardiff City and Hull City either side of a draw with Wigan Athletic.

Dean Smith's side appear to have kicked into gear since, though, firstly putting three points on the board with a 2-1 beating of Huddersfield Town, thanks to goals from Joshua Sargent and Danel Sinani, before the former hit both goals in a 2-0 win over Millwall at Carrow Road.

Hoping to make it three wins on the bounce, the Norfolk outfit faced the tough trip to Sunderland last weekend, but they eventually prevailed as Sargent hit the only goal of the game, before they travelled to take on Birmingham City on Tuesday.

Scott Hogan put their hosts ahead early in the second half of that contest, but Andrew Omobamidele quickly drew the Canaries level, and, after the sides looked set to share the points, Onel Hernandez popped up with a 93rd-minute winner to send Norwich into the top two at this early stage of the campaign.

Having now established an impressive run of form in England's second tier, Smith's side will look to climb to the summit of the division with what would be a fifth straight triumph at the weekend.

© Reuters

They welcome a Coventry City side who are struggling at the opposite end of the table after a tough start to the campaign, in which their first three home league games were postponed due to pitch issues.

Consequently, their first three matches in the Championship were all played away, and, after an opening-day 1-1 draw away at Sunderland, Mark Robins's side would suffer a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Millwall at the Den as their two-goal lead through Kyle McFadzean and Matt Godden was wiped out before George Saville hit a late winner for their hosts.

They were unsuccessful in moving off a single point in the following encounter, either, losing 3-2 away at Hull City as Godden's brace was overpowered by an Oscar Estupinan hat-trick, before the Sky Blues were cleared to play a first home league game of the season on Wednesday.

Robins's men welcomed a Preston North End side who had kept six straight clean sheets while only scoring one goal, and, somewhat expectedly, they were unable to break down their opponents, who did manage to find an elusive goal through Emil Riis Jakobsen to snatch all three points.

Already fighting from behind given their slender points tally, albeit with games in hand on every other Championship side, Coventry will be desperate to end their wait for a league win but face a tough test at Carrow Road.

Team News

© Reuters

Norwich City continue to deal with several injury issues, as Dimitris Giannoulis, Sam McCallum and Jacob Sorensen are all sidelined, leaving Sam Byram as the only available left-back, while Liam Gibbs and summer signing Isaac Hayden are unavailable for selection in midfield.

The return of Byram allowed Kenny McLean to move back into his more natural midfield position against Birmingham, joining Marcelino Nunez and Kieran Dowell in the engine room, although Gabriel Sara, who arrived from Sao Paulo for around £9m in the summer, will also be pushing for a first league start after a series of appearances off the bench.

Joshua Sargent may again be picked over Teemu Pukki up front, having scored four league goals so far this season, while competition is rife on the wings, with Onel Hernandez pushing to return to the XI after his late winner last time out while Todd Cantwell, Danel Sinani and Aaron Ramsey are also fighting for places with Milot Rashica absent from the squad for their last two outings.

Coventry City should recall key man Gustavo Hamer back into the midfield for Saturday's game, after the Brazilian served a suspension before coming off the bench on Wednesday.

He will likely join Ben Sheaf and Jamie Allen in the engine room, with Matt Godden and Viktor Gyokeres set to form a potent strike force given the injury to creative midfielder Callum O'Hare.

Following the exit of Dominic Hyam to Blackburn Rovers, Robins has fewer options to fill his back three, but Kyle McFadzean will continue to command the defence with Michael Rose, Callum Doyle and Jonathan Panzo fighting for the other two spots.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Omobamidele, Byram; Nunez, McClean, Dowell; Sinani, Sargent, Hernandez

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Panzo, McFadzean, Doyle; Eccles, Allen, Hamer, Sheaf, Bidwell; Gyokeres, Godden

We say: Norwich City 2-0 Coventry City

Given the difference in quality and form between the two sides, it is difficult to envisage the Sky Blues leaving Carrow Road with a positive result on Saturday.

The Canaries have quickly built momentum and found ways to win in their last two tight affairs, but we would not be surprised to see a slightly more comfortable victory on home turf.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Previews by email